Barry’s Department of Biology recently hosted Dr. Upal Roy, assistant professor in the Department of Immunology at Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.
Roy's research is focused on developing targeted and effective therapies to combat HIV infection and progression. He spoke to students, faculty and staff about the intricacies of the development of nanotechnology-based drug design and delivery. The goal of his research is to produce pharmaceutical formulations that are more effectively transported to the sites of infection and are therefore functional at much lower doses.
Three benefits of this approach are reduced cost, since less of the medication will need to be taken, reduced toxicity-associated side effects and a concomitant increase in patient compliance with therapy.
"HIV infection continues to be a public health issue, particularly in Miami, which has the highest new infection rate in the country,” said Roy. “In the absence of an approved vaccine, our next best hope is to find ways to more effectively manage the disease, not just for those who can afford top-tier medicines, but for all."